The cost to rebuild Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge is going to be more than expected and it's going to take longer too, according to the state.

The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) said the updated estimated cost of the new Key Bridge is to be between $4.3 and $5.2 billion, with an anticipated open-to-traffic date in late 2030. 

Officials had previously determined that the rebuild would cost around $2 billion and would be completed by the fall of 2028.

"As design has advanced and pre-construction work progresses, it has become clear that material costs for all aspects of the project have increased drastically since the preliminary estimates were prepared less than two weeks after the initial tragedy," Acting Transportation Secretary and MDTA Chair Samantha J. Biddle said in a statement. "The updated cost range and schedule are directly correlated to increased material costs and to a robust pier protection system designed to protect the new Key Bridge and reduce the likelihood of a future ship strike to the bridge's foundational piers."

In August 2024, the MDTA Board authorized a $73 million contract with Kiewit Infrastructure Company to complete the design and construction of the rebuilt Key Bridge.

Estimated cost increase for Key Bridge 

State transportation officials claim that national economic conditions have significantly changed, and material costs have increased, since the preliminary rebuild cost estimate was reported in 2024.

Officials said pre-construction activities, updated datapoints and advanced design — which were not available immediately following the collapse of the Key Bridge — were used to re-evaluate an updated estimated cost and schedule for the construction project. 

"Less than two weeks after the collapse, a preliminary estimate was needed to request federal emergency relief funding for immediate clean-up and recovery," said MDTA Executive Director Bruce Gartner. "Typically, a cost estimate would not be provided on a project of this size until much later in the design process." 

Gartner said the Key Bridge Rebuild achieved 70% design in 14 months compared to other projects that have averaged seven years, while also progressing construction. 

"Typical transportation projects of this magnitude take years of planning before even beginning design and pre-construction activities, something that Maryland and MDTA have compressed down to months," Gartner said.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore echoed the reasons for the price hike on essential materials, blaming "trade policies out of Washington, D.C."

"Still, despite this new economic reality, our resolve is unwavering," Moore said in a statement. "We remain committed to rebuilding as safely, quickly, and efficiently as possible. While the timeline has shifted and is not what we initially hoped for, I have full confidence in our team. They are working diligently to deliver a new gateway to the global economy that will endure for generations to come." 

New Key Bridge design

Earlier this month, during a tour of the Key Bridge reconstruction progress, the MDTA said a new design was expected to be finished by the end of the month.

However, transportation officials said the completion date and cost were still up in the air. MDTA Chief Engineer Jim Harkness said the design is nearly 70% complete.

Maryland released new design renderings in October. The bridge is expected to have a life span of 100 years, according to the MDTA.

The Key Bridge rebuild will feature two 12-foot lanes in each direction, totaling more than two miles.

The minimum clearance from the water to the bridge deck will be above the federal channel, 230 feet. The two bridge towers will be more than 600 feet tall.

"The new Francis Scott Key Bridge isn't just a local infrastructure project; it's vital to our nation's economy and will connect the Baltimore region to economies throughout the United States and the world," Biddle said. "Although rebuilding will take longer than initially forecasted and cost more, we remain committed to rebuilding as safely, quickly, and cost-effectively as possible."  

Impacts of the deadly Key Bridge collapse

The Key Bridge collapsed into the Patapsco River on March 26, 2024, after it was struck by the Dali, a 948-foot cargo ship that lost power after departing from the Port of Baltimore. 

The collapse killed six construction workers and closed the Port of Baltimore for nearly three months. The closure prompted shipping delays and a host of concerns from businesses across the region. 

The crash also opened the door for billions of dollars in lawsuits. 

The Dali lost power several times before ultimately colliding with the bridge, according to a report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

In March 2025, the NTSB blamed the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) for failing to conduct a vulnerability assessment. The NTSB said the assessment would have helped identify structural risks on the bridge before the collision.

"The Key Bridge, like other bridges in America, was approved and permitted by the federal government, and in compliance with those permits," MDTA said in response to the report.   

NTSB to share report at a public meeting

On Tuesday, Nov. 18, the NTSB released its exhaustive investigation into the Key Bridge collapse and the probable cause of the tragedy during a public meeting in Washington, D.C. 

NTSB said a loose wire on the ship Dali may have been responsible for the power outages that eventually led to the collision and the collapse of the Key Bridge in 2024.

The board heard from several marine and engineering experts during the hearing. They also discussed their final report and voted on the probable cause of the deadly bridge collision and collapse. 

The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) said it is reviewing the findings from the final report, and maintained that the bridge collapse was the sole fault of the Dali. 

"The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the tragic loss of life were the sole fault of the DALI and the gross negligence of its owners and operators," MDTA said in a statement Tuesday. "The Key Bridge was approved and permitted by the federal government and complied with those permits."

A full breakdown of NTSB's report can be found here.